Some truths about government, taxes

Do we really want the truth about our tax burden? It is not surprising to hear someone say that "government equals taxes."

No one likes taxes, and "government" has certainly provided ample reasons not to like them. So it is tempting to connect the two.

However, if one is really interested in lowering their tax burden, then one must know about services and who pays for what.

Services include schools, roads, water, public safety, etc., and each of these often has its own taxing entity aka "government."

The mere existence of a "government" has virtually no connection to your tax burden. Quite a statement, right? But consider when your tax burden increases. It always relates to the provision of some "service," or because of a "shifting" of funding for a service.

Yes, it is "government" that usually is making the decisions that institute "services." But in an extreme hypothetical, the "removal" of "government" would have nearly zero effect on your tax burden. That assumes, of course, that you do not wish to give up any existing service and that you are not able to "shift" the burden to someone else.

So, can any "government," and in this country "the people" are the government, actually do something to lower your tax burden? Yes, but only if that government is willing and able to contain services provided, and/or able to effect the shifting of your tax burden to some other group, e.g. land-cash to help keep school taxes lower, user fees for pet control, etc.

If you really want to do something positive, you should recognize that a village has more capability to do the above than your county or township is ever likely to have.

I believe most residents in Campton Hills are not looking for increased services. As long as that remains true, the village must never make decisions that increase levels of service. And the village has a capability not offered by others, which is the ability to institute policies that can actually shift your tax burden to others who more properly deserve to pay those costs.

These are the reasons I support the village of Campton Hills and think we all should become part of the solution that can positively affect our tax burdens. Remember "We the People"?

Roy Pollack, trustee

Campton Hills